Two choices in Iraq

The United States has reached a crossroads in Iraq. Either we need to withdraw our troops or we need to send in another 500,000 and overwhelm the entire country and be done with it. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating the latter. This is a war that should never have been started. Unfortunately, we have now been placed in the position of deciding how to end it. Since there was never a plan in place for anything other than “shock and awe”, it is up to “We, the People” to determine how to proceed. The current administration does not appear capable of creating a plan and, thus, it is up to the American Public to do the job.

Every day people are being killed in Iraq, combatants and non-combatants, and that will continue as long as the US continues to fund and send troops to fight the war at the current level. Either we must do as yesterday’s writer suggested, bring back the draft so everyone’s kids go to war, and allocate additional, astronomical sums of money, and increase taxes, and require sacrifice from every individual in our country, or we must get out as expeditiously as possible. And that means accepting our huge mistake, negotiating with Arab nations to support and keep us safe during our withdrawal, and getting out.

Does this mean we have behaved honorably? No. Does sending in tens of thousands more soldiers mean we are behaving honorably? No. This war was never about honor and we will be left to pick up the pieces for a long time to come. However, we can start now to make changes so that we can again become a nation that acts with honor.

It is time for the American Public to get mad, get mad as Hell, and force our politicians to do something. Stop talking about it and do something. That’s why they are in Washington.

If you don’t know how to contact the politicians, contact your nearest public library. They have the information. Do it now. Get mad as Hell and make a difference.

I just have one question: why is it that the strongest military force on earth, the one with all those incredible high tech toys, the one that accounts for almost half of all the world’s military expenditures cannot bring peace to one third world city??? What am I missing??

John Scott

I just have one question: why is it that the strongest military force on earth, the one with all those incredible high tech toys, the one that accounts for almost half of all the world’s military expenditures cannot bring peace to one third world city??? What am I missing??

Pauly

You’re not missing anything John. This never was a military action. This was a diplomatic one.

See what we have here is a president who wanted to be a “war president” but reluctantly had to become a diplomatic one. What we need and will always need is a diplomatic president who will reluctantly become a war president.

The military is being used incorrectly. If military action was truly needed, a diplomatic (and sound) president would have sent in one of our covert opts teams and surgically removed Saddam.

The military is ineffective for the same reason it was ineffective in Vietnam. They are a military, not a police force. The only way we can “win” this “war” is if we sent in the 500,000 troops as you suggested, and they kill every single person standing that is not American. Every man, woman and child. That’s how wars are won with just using the military. Thank god we have graduated to a level of humanity where that would be inconceivable. Well…unless you still support this current “surge” that Bush and the Neo-cons have forced upon the Iraq people.

Pauly

You’re not missing anything John. This never was a military action. This was a diplomatic one.

See what we have here is a president who wanted to be a “war president” but reluctantly had to become a diplomatic one. What we need and will always need is a diplomatic president who will reluctantly become a war president.

The military is being used incorrectly. If military action was truly needed, a diplomatic (and sound) president would have sent in one of our covert opts teams and surgically removed Saddam.

The military is ineffective for the same reason it was ineffective in Vietnam. They are a military, not a police force. The only way we can “win” this “war” is if we sent in the 500,000 troops as you suggested, and they kill every single person standing that is not American. Every man, woman and child. That’s how wars are won with just using the military. Thank god we have graduated to a level of humanity where that would be inconceivable. Well…unless you still support this current “surge” that Bush and the Neo-cons have forced upon the Iraq people.

Vincent Carroll is The Denver Post's editorial page editor. He has been writing commentary on politics and public policy in Colorado since 1982 and was originally with the Rocky Mountain News, where he was also editor of the editorial pages until that newspaper gave up the ghost in 2009.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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